Byg Brewski shut down on Sarjapur Road for operating in a residential area

Byg Brewski that opened its doors in May 2018 on Sarjapur Road, was shut down on December 24, 2019 by the authorities for violating various rules and also inconveniencing the public. Importantly, it was a commercial enterprise operating in a residential area with no valid permissions.

After receiving scores of complaints, it had to be shut down, according to Mahadevapura MLA Aravind Limbavali. However, the residents caution that 13 such commercial establishments in residential areas were shut down recently, but reopened in a few days. They hope Byg Brewski is shut forever. In addition, the residents have provided a list of 20-odd other commercial outlets to the BBMP Joint Commissioner that need to be sealed permanently too.

Says Vishnu Prasad of Kasavanahalli Development Forum, a federation of resident welfare associations in Bellandur: “There are many more commercial places that have to go. The lack of proper parking provisions by commercial establishments is choking all the roads today. In the case of Byg Brewski, the 800 residents of Greenwoods apartments could not get in and out of their house due to the haphazard parking by the pub visitors on the narrow 30 feet road. “With parking on both sides, the road is reduced to 4-5 feet. In case of an emergency, how can an ambulance enter this sole access road to the residents? Many people have left the place because of this. It’s so noisy and unliveable.”

Similarly, a steel godown has come up in another residential part of Bellandur. “There is noise throughout as there are late night operations. Their huge vehicles are parked on the road during the day, choking traffic. It’s horrible.”

The residents also want the authorities to punish the authorities who allowed such illegal places to come up in residential areas. But the truth is that no permissions were given because no government official can give permission when it’s illegal to begin with. Sources inform us that when there is enough residential pressure, the authorities just issue a showcause notice to the establishments, take the bribe, and shut themselves up instead of shutting down the commercial outlet.

Bibhabasu Prusty is worried about the employees: “But what will happen to those people who were working there and lost their jobs?” Another resident said it is not good news for the nightlife of Bangalore. Said Varun Rajamane: “These guys are quick in shutting down places. But when it comes to building infra, they take forever. On a side note, a city with reduced nightlife might not be as appealing to the youth. We do not know what the long-term implications of shutting down all these ‘illegal places’.”

Nitz Mallikarjun wanted to know what will take the place of the pub now that it is shut? “What’s coming here? We need mass transport facility and Metro to Sarjapur Road with proper parking provision! Please speedup the road widening!”

The residents are demanding quick action on several other commercial establishments in residential areas like one badminton court. The Save Bellandur group is questioning BESCOM on how electricity was supplied to an illegal establishment in Tulasi Layout, Kasavanahalli. The residents report that the place was shutdown for two days due to the uproar but reopened with the proprietor promising that arrangements were made to park vehicles in a vacant site. However, the basic questions remain. It’s a 30 feet road and parking happens on both sides. The traffic is choked when one SUV or big car enters that lane.

The residents blame illegal constructions for the traffic jams as the entire building materials are on the road. “School buses get stuck every day and there is no space at even 7am to pass through,” says Akshay Sharma. “Central Jail road (Kasavanahalli Main Road) is becoming pathetic day by day.”